Many of the themes
of my artwork relate to problems that I face in the society as a
woman. One of the issues I have dealt in my work is how the consumer
society and its market mechanisms construct and promote the ‘ideal
image of female beauty’. One could see that the majority of
products that are specifically for women such as beauty products,
fashion, cloth items and other feminine accessories are marketed
clinging to this ideal female body as the main focus of attention.
One could see that most fashion magazines and billboards depict
women fitting to this ideal image of female beauty and body attempting
to market various products. There is a large gap between the female
body of the average woman and this ideal body. I find this very
problematic.
The ideal image of beauty and the perfect body
of the woman that is circulated within the market and consumerist
culture locally is also a construct that is influenced by international
events such as Miss Universe, Miss World etc. which defines and
sustains the ideal statistics and attributes of feminine beauty
in the global sphere. One of the obvious examples of this globally
circulated ideal of feminine beauty is the ‘Barbie Doll’
image. The problem I have is that this particular image or similar
images of ideal feminine beauty constructed by the international
beauty contests are in many ways alien to the form of the female
body in the local context. It is also problematic that in a situation
where varied forms of bodies exist, one particular notion of beauty
and ideal form becomes privileged. This disparity in the construction
of the ideal female beauty and the female form that exists in reality
creates tensions and anxieties in the woman where she becomes a
victim as well as the object of consumer products and the market
mechanisms of the consumer society.
Janani Cooray obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree
from the Institute of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya,
Sri Lanka. Her art practice consists of installation work and paintings.
She lives and works in Himbutana, Sri Lanka.
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